Speakers denounce India’s controversial move of August 5, 2019 in IIOJK
Muzaffarabad: Speakers at a seminar at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir strongly condemned India’s controversial move to revoke the special status of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the event, organized by the Institute of Kashmir Studies in connection with the significant date of August 5, 2019, focused on the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, which stripped the territory of its special status.
Held at the Chella Campus, the seminar featured a range of distinguished speakers, including Prof. Dr Nadeem Haider Bukhari, Dr Ambreen Khawaja, Dr Mahmood Hussain, Dr Nazakat Hussain and Syed Inaam Ali Naqvi.
The speakers examined various dimensions of the Kashmir dispute, particularly the aftermath of the August 5, 2019 decision, which has led to demographic changes, crackdowns, arrests of Hurriyat leaders, media restrictions, and an increased military presence in the territory.
They called upon the international community to hold India accountable for human rights violations and to support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
In his keynote address, Prof. Dr. Syed Nadeem Haider Bukhari emphasized the importance of a stable and prosperous Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in supporting the Kashmir freedom movement. He urged for self-reflection and honesty in evaluating the efforts made for the freedom-seeking residents across the Line of Control.
Dr Mahmood Hussain, Coordinator of the Department of International Relations, discussed India’s attempts to impose its culture and laws in the occupied valley, aiming to erase Kashmir’s historical and cultural identity.
Dr Ambreen Khawaja, Assistant Professor of Kashmir Studies, focused on the implications of the abrogation of Articles 35-A and 370 on the Kashmir freedom movement. She stressed the importance of educating the youth about the various phases of the freedom struggle and the sacrifices made, preparing them for future efforts.
